IL113886A

IL113886A - Clamp for venetian blinds

Info

Publication number: IL113886A
Application number: IL11388695A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Traugott Gil; Sagi Gil
Priority date: 1995-05-28
Filing date: 1995-05-28
Publication date: 1996-12-05
Also published as: FR2735177A3; IL113886A0; DE29608909U1; FR2735177B3; NL1003213C1

Description

CLAMP FOR VENETIAN BLINDS 52695AP.DOC D-1 24.5.95 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to holders for blinds, in general and, more particularly, to a support for a Venetian blind, and the like, which can be affixed to a window or door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are known in the art a number of devices for hanging blinds, which are generally arranged to be affixed to a wall above or to the sides of a window or door. These devices suffer from the disadvantage that they are cumbersome to install, requiring drilling a hole in the wall in order to affix the holder thereto. They also require that the blinds be raised above the door or window before it can be opened.

It has been suggested in PCT application WO 89/08180 to mount a sun-screen directly on a door or window. This applicaton discloses a clamp for mounting on top of the door which clamps both sides of the door or window. The clamp includes a first forked clamping flange and a second clamping flange with a screw-thread protrusion arranged to slide within the fork of the first clamping flange. A threaded spindle is threaded through the screw thread of the protrusion on the second clamping flange and draws it towards the first clamping flange, thereby tightening the flanges on either side of the door. The clamping flanges are covered by a cap which holds the clamps together, and a blind or sun-screen can be hung from the clamp. This clamp, however is cumbersome to use and relatively expensive to manufacture.

Thus, it would be highly desirable to have a" simple and inexpensive support for a Venetian blind, or other blind mounted on a profile, which includes a clamp and which can be easily mounted on a door or window without causing damage and without drilling holes in the adjacent wall .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for mounting a blind on a window or door, the blind being coupled to a profile having inwardly-turned upper edges defining a track, the apparatus including a profile-engaging element insertable and lockable inside the track, and means for tightening the profile-engaging element against the window or door.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further includes an L-shaped clamping element coupled to the profile-engaging element to engage one side of the door or window.

Further according to a preferred embodiment, the profile-engaging element includes a support element having rounded edges arranged for slidable insertion in the track and for pivotable engagement with the upper edges of the profile.

There is also provided in accordance with the invention, a method for mounting a blind on a window or door, the blind being coupled to a profile having inwardly-turned upper edges defining a track, the method including: (a) inserting a profile-engaging element into the track; (b) rotating the profile-engaging element within the track so as to lock it therein; and (c) tightening the profile-engaging element against the window or door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be further understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic side view illustration of the combined holder and mounting element constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the mounting element according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective illustration of the profile profile-engaging element according to one embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 4 is a front view of the profile-engaging element of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a side view of the profile-engaging element of Fig. 3 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a combined support and clamping element for mounting a Venetian blind on a door or window, especially an aluminum door or window. It is a particular feature of the present invention that the device provides support for the profile of a venetion blind or the like, as well as serving to mount the blind on a door or wall without damage to the door or window or to the surrounding wall. In particular, a profile-engaging portion of the device can be lockingly coupled to the profile so that the Venetian blind can be sold preassembled and ready for hanging on a door or window with minimum additional work.

Referring now to Fig. 1 , there is shown apparatus 1 0 for mounting a blind, having a profile 1 2 , on a door or window 1 . As can be seen, profile 1 2 includes two upper edges 32 which entend inwardly to define a track. In this case, edges 1 3 curve inwardly and downwardly. Apparatus 1 0 includes a clamping element 1 6 and a profile-engaging element 1 8 slideably mounted in the clamping element 1 6 which is adjustable to the thickness of the door or window .

Clamping element 1 6 is shown in perspective view in Fig. 2 . Clamping element 1 6 includes a base 20 , defining a longitudinal aperture 22, and a clamping flange 24. A threaded bore 26 is provided in clamping flange 24 in register with a recess 28 in base 20 at the far end of the longitudinal aperture 22.

Profile-engaging element 18 is shown in Figs. 3-5. Profile-engaging element 18 is generally rectangualar in shape and includes a support element 30 arranged for slideable engagement within the track formed by the upper edges 32 of profile 12. As can be seen, support element 30 defines opposing inclined and curved edges 34 to facilitate insertion into the track of profile 12 in a narrow dimension, and locking the element 30 in the track by turning it 9.0 degrees in the direction of the curved edges to wedge the element 30 against the walls of profile 12 with its longer dimension.

Support element 30 is affixed to a support plate 36 via a neck 38 of smaller size. Preferably, the height of neck 38 will vary according to the shape of the particular profile. A block 40 is affixed to support plate 36. Block 40 has a threaded bore 42 adapted to receive a threaded spindle 44, such as a screw (see Fig. 1).

Operation of the apparatus of the invention is as follows, with further reference to Fig. 1. Profile 12 is coupled to profile-engaging element 18 by insertion of support element 30 into the track in profile 12, with upper edges 32 of the profile engaging neck 38 . It is a particular feature of the present invention that support 1 8 is substantially rectangular in shape. Thus, profile-engaging element 1 8 can slide into the track of profile 1 2 with the longitudinal axis of support element 30 parallel to the longitudinal axis of profile 1 2 .

Profile-engaging element 1 8 is now rotated through 90 degrees in the direction of the inclined, curved edges 34 so that the longitudinal axis of support element 30 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of profile 1 2 . , wedging the walls of support element 30 against the walls of profile 1 2 . During this rotation, inclined edges 34 of support element 30 urge the upper edges 32 of profile 1 2 into engagement with support plate 36 , thereby locking the profile-engaging element in the profile.

It is a particular feature of the invention that, once the profile-engaging member is inserted into profile 1 2 and locked in place, the profile is firmly held and cannot fall off or come loose.

At the time of mounting the Venetian blind on a door or window, clamping element 1 6 is held adjacent the upper edge of the door or window. Profile-engaging element 1 8 is coupled now to clamping element 1 6 by seating block 40 in longitudinal aperture 22 . A threaded spindle 44 , such as a screw, is inserted through bore 26 in clamping element 1 6 , through bore 42 in block 40 , and seats in recess 28 . Threaded spindle 44 is rotated, thereby tightening the two elements against the door or window and against one another.

The apparatus of the invention may be formed of any suitable rigid material, such as metal or rigid plastic.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to what has been described hereinabove merely by way of example. Rather, the inventon is limited solely by the claims which follow. 113886/2

Claims

1. Apparatus for mounting a blind on a window or door, the blind being coupled to a profile having inwardly-turned upper edges defining a track, the apparatus comprising: (a) a profile-engaging element insertable and lockable inside the track, said profile-engaging element is substantially rectangular and includes a support element having rounded edges arranged for slidable insertion in the track and for pivotable engagement and locking with the upper edges of the profile; and (b) means for tightening said profile-engaging element against the window or door.

2. The apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising an L-shaped clamping element coupled to said profile-engaging element to engage one side of the door or window.

3. The apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said clamping element includes: (a) a base; (b) a flange depending from said base; and (c) an aperture in the base for receiving a portion of said profile-engaging element.

4. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said support element includes opposing rounded, inclined edges for insertion under and locking engagement with the upper edges of the profile .

5. The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said aperture is elongated and said portion of the profile-engaging element is slideably adjustable in said aperture. 113886/2 - 9 -

6. The apparatus of Claim 5, wherein said portion is a threaded block with the thread parallel to the longitudinal axis of the profile-engaging element.

7. A method for mounting a blind on a window or door, the blind being coupled to a profile having inwardly-turned upper edges defining a track, the method comprising: (a) inserting a profile-engaging element into the track; (b) rotating said profile-engaging element within the track so as to lock it therein; and (c) tightening said profile-engaging element against the window or door .

8. The method according to Claim 7, further comprising the steps of: (a) placing a clamping member against one side of the window or door; and (b) coupling said clamping member to said profile-engaging element; and wherein said step of tightening includes simultaneously tightening said clamping member and said profile-engaging element against the window or door.

9. The apparatus substantially as described above and as illustrated in any of Figs. 1-5.

10. The method substantially as described above and as illustrated in any of Figs. 1-5. AGENT FOR APPLICANT